Xander Schauffele has stated that he will not keep any of the money from the upcoming Ryder Cup matches. The PGA of America has announced a compensation plan that will pay each member of the U.S. team $500,000, with $300,000 designated for charity. Therefore, players could retain $200,000. European Ryder Cuppers have criticized the payment. Rory McIlroy told BBC in November, “I don’t think any of the 24 players on either team needs that $400,000.
Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.” Schauffele, the world No. 2, said, “I’m looking at it as an opportunity to give away more money,” adding, “It’s never going to be perceived that way, just with how the media talks about stuff and how things shook down in Italy. It’s going to go to charity. I spoke to Keegan (Bradley) and he had a plan before, and that got blown up by the leak of the whole thing. Keegan had a plan to get all the boys to do something really nice. And now everyone is pointing fingers on how this thing has shaken down. Learning from the PGA Tour, we’re going to give back to the community however we can help, whether it’s the fire department or NYPD or you name it. Keegan is from the Northeast, and we’ll take his lead.” The pay-for-play issue became prevalent leading into the 1999 Ryder Cup. Mark O’Meara, one of the players who brought awareness to the topic along with David Duval and Tiger Woods, said, “The way the whole thing is shaking down, it’s good for this big rivalry. And it’s going to be better for the Ryder Cup,” Cantlay said. “Whenever there’s like a feud, what happens? It juices everything up around it. The Ryder Cup is going to do better because of this thing.”, Cantlay said when asked about the stipend. Cantlay only had one thing on his mind regarding the Ryder Cup, set for September at Bethpage Black in New York: “When it comes to the Ryder Cup, I’m fully focused on representing my country and winning points for my teammates,” Cantlay said. “Right now, I’m focused completely on trying to make the team.